5 Challenges That Come with Facilities Management

For most owners of office buildings or other large structures, finding a way to keep their space in good shape is a top concern. There are a variety of tasks that have to be done in order to keep a larger organization running efficiently.

Having a professional handling all aspects of facilities management can be beneficial and will reduce the stress that a building owner will have to deal with. With all of the different companies out there available to handle the work associated with facilities management, finding the right one will take some time and effort. The following are a few of the top challenges facing facilities management:

Selecting the Right Vendors to Outsource To

Handling all of the issues that arise in a building may be a bit too much for an organization to handle in-house. Finding the right firm to outsource work to can be very difficult, which is why many organizations use an established facilities management firm who already have the right connections. The more the facilities manager is able to know about a company and their reputation, the easier they will find it to make the right decision. It’s also important to compare value (after-all, cutting costs is part of a facilities management job too), and check for certifications of any potential vendors you shortlist.

Not Having Enough Information

Dealing with the upkeep of large commercial buildings is a lot harder than most people think. Due to the vast amount of systems at work in a large commercial building, a facilities manager will have to work extra hard to reduce the damage done to an organization due to lack of reliable data. Taking the time to keep records of all of the service and maintenance work done, can be a great way for the facilities manager to stay on top of future issues. Involving vendors on all levels in this type of record keeping is an essential part of ensuring that the information received is accurate.

Doing More with Fewer Tools

The world of facilities management is filled with changes, and adapting to those changes can be a bit easier said than done. Since the economic downturn a few years back, many facility management companies have great insight in how to do more with fewer tools. The key to having success with fewer tools and team members is organization. By taking the time to develop and utilize comprehensive systems that allow all team members to communicate in real time, a facilities manager will be able to increase their overall level of awareness and productivity.

Taking Time for Preventative Measures

Among the biggest problems that a facility manager has to deal with are repairs to their buildings and office spaces. Taking the time to come up with preventative maintenance procedures can help a facility manager reduce the amount of repair issues that they have to deal with. Talking things over with the professionals that are being outsourced, the facility manager will be able to get the information they need to get the right preventative measures in place. Neglecting to involve the maintenance professionals in this type of work will lead to a variety of negative consequences eventually.

Being Able to Save Some Money

The biggest reason why an organization will employ the services of a facilities management firm is to save money. By taking the time to see where things can be streamlined, a facility manager will be able to get the results the organization is looking for. One of the simplest and most efficient ways for a facility manager to save an organization money is by doing an energy audit. During this audit, the facility manager will be able to see where energy is being wasted and what can be done in order to reduce this amount of waste. The time and effort that is invested into this type of audit will be well worth the result.

By hiring a reputable and experienced facilities management firm, an organization will be able to reduce the amount of work they have to do to keep their property in good shape, and save themselves time and money in the process.